Sequel to Accidental Reunion
Mixing Opposites
Chapter One
"Oh Draco!" Harry exclaimed as he gently plucked a tiny glass bottle filled with a golden liquid out of a small black box.
"For your discretion. Enough for one lucky day."
"Did you know what my present was going to be? Felix felicis, this'll definitely come in handy..."
"Just coincidence," the blonde, smiling, leaned in for a chaste kiss.
Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter were quietly celebrating their six month anniversary. It was a clear morning, letting the sunshine stream joyously onto the bare figures of the couple through the window. They lie entwined in one another's arms, stretched out luxuriously on Harry's simple bed of white sheets and pillows. Draco sat up a little, cupping his temple with a palm to more directly look at his lover.
"Your decision, is the most wonderful, unexpected gift I have ever received. If you're serious, then it was damn lucky I got a little Felix." Draco chuckled.
"Of course I'm serious, love." Harry's decision to go public with their relationship was, after six months, definitely a surprise to Draco. The fledgling couple had previously barely scraped the surface of this topic. It was almost always skirted and ignored. The unexpected lovers were living in denial, wanting to preserve every blissful moment before either breaking up or facing real life. Real life... the ramifications of going public were potentially catastrophic. The immediate friends and family of both Harry and Draco would never approve, the Prophet would have a field day, and there would be loads of questions to be answered. The wizarding world was already semi-aware of Harry's homosexuality. But because he had stayed away from the limelight, living in the realm of muggles, he'd managed to stay relatively private about it. The real news would be Harry's choice of lovers.
The Malfoy's were still a relatively wealthy and respected family. It was understood they fully recanted their days as Death Eaters and no formal charges had ever been brought against them since the destruction of Voldemort. Since Draco had been absent from England for the last several years he'd faded significantly from the public's interest. Pair him with Harry though, and people would begin to reconnect him with his attempt on Dumbledore's life and former Death Eater status. No one would understand how or why Harry Potter had chosen him of all people. This was only the beginning of many veins of uncomfortable criticisms.
From a more personal perspective, for Harry, his friends would not understand; Ron and Hermione least of all. It would be difficult for them to forget all the rivalry and many slights endured during their Hogwarts years, on top of the Death Eater affiliations. Draco and his family, having directly participated in many gruesome acts directly relating to the cause Harry was born to fight, would also prove problematic. Not to mention Lucius Malfoy himself, Draco's father, had tried to kill Harry. Had tried to make his life miserable and facilitated the harming of innocents close to Harry's heart (like giving Ginny Riddle's diary). It would be awkward for both, resentment still burning bright in their chests.
Harry's decision to take on these challenges was proof of his commitment. Proof he was ready to live his life without apology. Draco had less to lose but the spotlight would cast a heavy glare on him, sweating out his dirty past. Of course when Harry presented this to Draco he played it off as nothing special. But Draco knew better. This meant the end of sneaking around and lying and the beginning of freedom. They both knew, though neither would speak of it in the sunshiny morning of glorious potential, the perhaps deadly price their freedom was tagged with. The relationship might not survive, other relationships in their lives might not either. But it was worth it to find out.
Draco had gotten his muggle relations post. Working at the Ministry caused a great deal of agitation as it required contact with the Weasleys. Harry interacted with Draco at work in a calm, concise manner while Ron, bemused by Draco's career choice railed against him frequently. Harry, determined not to give himself away, let most of it slide but worked diligently to change Ron's views. "Slimy prat" was Ron's favorite epithet for Draco, often eliciting a lecture from Harry. Hermione, gratefully, had little to say on the subject of Draco's choice of employment. Working at Hogwarts as an Arithmancy professor however, severely limited her contact with Draco, his presence consequently bothering her little. Hermione was now top of Harry's list of people to tell about him and Draco. Surely she would be understanding. Presently Harry mentioned this to Draco.
"I'll talk to Hermione first and I guess you should talk to your family..."
"Right, well, I haven't exactly talked to my parents in a while," Draco looked away to stare fixedly at a corner of the ceiling.
"What do you mean, they know you're back right?"
"Yeah, went round for tea and everything. They don't have the energy to deal with me or something."
"What?"
"I was gone for a long time, they don't really know what to do with me. I dunno what to do with them either for that matter," Draco sighed thoughtfully.
"You've been back a year now-- surely--"
"No. I don't really want to talk to them anyway. Look Harry," Draco focused on the brunette, and stroked his cheek, "I'm ready. You talk to Granger. I'll go up to the Manor if you want, but I don't really see the point."
"No, I guess there isn't one." Harry was half relieved, half upset. This meant less trouble and yet amplified the trouble Harry faced on his side. A funny thought suddenly struck him: Christmas with the Malfoys, if they ever cared enough to be so cordial, was not on his list of "fun things to do before I'm forty". Not involving them eliminated this awkward and amusing possibility. Stiff chairs, to scared to hold hands, like little kids, sitting at some big long table, in a cold grey room. Harry pictured a holly wreath adorning Lucius' head, from a magical holiday cracker, not even jolly enough to liven the mood of the sullen dinner party. The tension could be sliced with a knife it was so thick. Harry imagined himself choking on a bit of pork, the tension filling his lungs like lead, or was that the hilarity of the holly wreath, begging him to burst into laughter? Harry snorted and quickly changed the subject.
"Let's just enjoy our last day of happiness before we spill to everyone. Merlin knows if we'll get a day's peace after this." Rolling his eyes, Harry gingerly placed the tiny bottle of Felix out of reach for safe keeping.
Draco nuzzled against the brunette's warm back and tenderly brushed his lips against it. The couple's short six months together was not entirely blissful. At first they struggled to define their relationship. Finally realizing they were meant for each other exclusively, Draco had ended it with little Steve. Draco knew he had to do it after that first breakfast with Harry. But he'd waited. His feelings for Harry were still raw and confused. So Draco, unbeknownst to Harry, continued to sleep with Steve for weeks before ditching him. Draco clearly remembered his last night with Steve. Kissing the boy's lips seemed perfunctory. Undressing and kneading each other's flesh was still exciting but, for Draco, guilt ridden. When he slipped inside Steve, he felt unclean. His body yearned for Harry's touch; for that understanding caress, and tentative sex that defined their intimate moments after that heady first time. Draco broke up with Steve the next day.
Both Draco and Harry continuously sought each other's knowing warmth. Draco needed redemption and closure while Harry needed to comfort and subconsciously claim the blonde as symbol of total triumph of good over evil. These needs, mixed with physical attraction made for a very confusing relationship. Over the course of months, the couple built a bond of likeability and mental connection. Secretly they met at each other's flats, talking, joking, and making love. No longer tentative, Harry and Draco clawed at each other's bodies, hungrily tasting and devouring. Admitting their relationship was just the next step in the healing process.
"Harry... I want you, now."
Beneath the jersey sheet, Harry sheathed himself in Draco's body. Threading his fingers with the pale boy's, Harry lay into him convulsively, both bodies were racked with pleasurable need. Harry dug his forehead between Draco's shoulder blades and deliberately thrust. Rhythmically the lovers sweated and ached together until completion.